Charge-statistics separation and probing non-Abelian states

Abstract

Several states were proposed as candidates for the $\nu=5/2$ quantum Hall plateau. We suggest an experiment which can determine the physical state. The proposal involves transport measurements in the geometry with three quantum Hall edges connected by two quantum point contacts. In contrast to interference experiments, this approach can distinguish the Pfaffian and anti-Pfaffian states as well as different states with identical Pfaffian or anti-Pfaffian statistics. The transport is not sensitive to the fluctuations of the number of the quasiparticles trapped in the system.